Tied 2-2, Do You Believe?

[footey]

This is how I  feel going into game 5:

If we win Game 5, we will win the championship in 6 games.

If we lose Game 5, we will win the championship in 7 games.

Key is to better strategize defending Curry.  Need to play more physically with him, if you don't get physical, he will destroy you (a/l/a game 4).  Put Rob on Looney and avoid getting into pick and roles.  Let him roam and defend the paint. Will allow our perimeter defenders to play more aggressively.

Need a break out from JT. 

[Phantom255x]

This is how I  feel going into game 5:

If we win Game 5, we will win the championship in 6 games.

If we lose Game 5, we will win the championship in 7 games.

Key is to better strategize defending Curry.  Need to play more physically with him, if you don't get physical, he will destroy you (a/l/a game 4).  Put Rob on Looney and avoid getting into pick and roles.  Let him roam and defend the paint. Will allow our perimeter defenders to play more aggressively.

Need a break out from JT.

I basically have the same, except I think if BOS loses Game 5, Golden State wins in 7 games

I think Boston wins Game 6 regardless, it's just whether it's a win to clinch it all, or to force Game 7. I personally don't love our chances at all of winning a Game 7 on the road. We did it last round, but Golden State is better than Miami and is also more experienced

[Moranis]

Boston in 5

[slamtheking]

Boston in 5

keep the faith brother, keep the faith

[Phantom255x]

We can survive a game where the Warriors shoot really well if we limit the turnovers and actually rebound. But we didn’t do the latter in Game 4 which cost us at the end.

Need to protect the ball in Game 5.

[Erik]

They had some moments of Horford low post which felt a lot safer offense. I think us having Tatum or Brown drive to the basket on 80% of the plays is predictable and risky offense.

There’s of course no way to prove this but I believe that if we just performed a similar high pick and roll between Tatum and Brown and favored a pull up 3, we be in a better shape because it’s less prone to turnovers. At Tatums level, a pull up 3 vs a set 3 isn’t that big of a % difference. The price of a turnover is about 1 point. With the level of defense we play in the half court vs this team, we should be designing our offense around safe, lower percentage 3s as opposed to jumping backflips to get a dunk, a foul, or a wide open 3 every few plays.

Just setup in defense and let them beat themselves. Steph had to be just about perfect to just barely beat us with 19 free points off turnovers. These are legitimate turnovers. Their defense isn’t forcing these at all. It’s just either 1)trying to play hero ball driving into 3 defenders or 2) trying to make an overly complicated pass or skipping someone in a ball rotation. Thats it. No one on their team can play a lick of defense and they’ve usually got 2 people who play atrocious defense. Tatum just keeps driving it into 2-3 defenders and stands around arguing with the refs about not getting the call while we’re on a 4v5 fast break vs a lethal 3 point team.

I can’t believe that Tatum thinks that the refs are going to bail him out of a boneheaded move dribbling into 3 defenders. It is impossible for there not to be contact driving into 3 people. You are never getting that call unless someone slaps your arm and that’s why you lost the ball.

If we lose this finals, this will be the biggest meltdown I can recall.

Hoping someone over there smacks some sense into this team and we close it out in 6.

[SparzWizard]

This is how I  feel going into game 5:

If we win Game 5, we will win the championship in 6 games.

If we lose Game 5, we will win the championship in 7 games.

Key is to better strategize defending Curry.  Need to play more physically with him, if you don't get physical, he will destroy you (a/l/a game 4).  Put Rob on Looney and avoid getting into pick and roles.  Let him roam and defend the paint. Will allow our perimeter defenders to play more aggressively.

Need a break out from JT.

I basically have the same, except I think if BOS loses Game 5, Golden State wins in 7 games

I think Boston wins Game 6 regardless, it's just whether it's a win to clinch it all, or to force Game 7. I personally don't love our chances at all of winning a Game 7 on the road. We did it last round, but Golden State is better than Miami and is also more experienced

We also practically did it in Milwaukee...down 3-2 facing elimination in Game 6. That was our Game 7. And then our actual Game 7 in Boston.

[tenn_smoothie]

No, I do not believe. I certainly have hope, but unlike other Celtic title contending teams, this group is painfully fragile.

When all the parts are performing their jobs well and not trying to play beyond their limits, this team is a pleasure to watch and plenty good enough to win the NBA championship. But when we get out of kilter, especially on the offensive end, our chances of success go way down ..................  And the way we usually get out of kilter is to lose mental focus on playing the right way. The Celts have talent, but not the the type of horsepower that those past title teams had across the board, including offense, shooting, rebounding, passing, basketball IQ combined with offensive roles that fit together more naturally and then simply a will to win that was stronger than this current group. Defensively, this year's Celtics may be better than many of our past teams, save for the Russell era and the 2008 team. These 2022 Celtics have less margin for error and struggle to maintain the mental discipline needed to limit those errors.

Don't take my comments to conclude that I have given up. Not at all.
The biggest strength this team has is its determination and resiliency.
I just fear that our strengths will not be enough to overcome our mental lapses and Stephen Curry.

[ozgod]

Gary Washburn must be reading this forum 

The Celtics players may not say they hear the narrative, but they do. They are of the social media generation, the one that has labeled Boston as chokers for its Game 4 collapse and labeled the Golden State Warriors as champion even though the series is tied, 2-2.

That’s what happens when a team loses an NBA Finals game, especially one at home, that could have meant control of the series. The next 48–72 hours are spent assigning labels to teams, players, and coaches.

The Celtics lack the experience and consistency to win a championship. Jayson Tatum is a good player, but still lacks the fortitude for greatness. Ime Udoka is not making the adjustments to keep Stephen Curry from dominating the series with his dazzling offensive arsenal.

Udoka understands the consensus is the Celtics blew their opportunity to win the series. There may have never been such a lopsided public opinion on a 2-2 series. Each team has won their two games by double digits. Each team has displayed dominance at key moments. Each team has played regrettable and shoddy basketball in stretches.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/06/12/sports/celtics-need-better-jayson-tatum-save-tied-series-so-many-believe-theyve-already-lost/

Everyone has written them off. In a way it's about managing expectations - keep them low and you can never be disappointed, only be pleasantly surprised. We'll see how they respond. They've responded all season - now they have to respond when they really need to respond, because a championship is on the line. And these moments don't come by all the time. Will they revel in it or be intimidated by it?

[Rosco917]

No, I do not believe. I certainly have hope, but unlike other Celtic title contending teams, this group is painfully fragile.

When all the parts are performing their jobs well and not trying to play beyond their limits, this team is a pleasure to watch and plenty good enough to win the NBA championship. But when we get out of kilter, especially on the offensive end, our chances of success go way down ..................  And the way we usually get out of kilter is to lose mental focus on playing the right way. The Celts have talent, but not the the type of horsepower that those past title teams had across the board, including offense, shooting, rebounding, passing, basketball IQ combined with offensive roles that fit together more naturally and then simply a will to win that was stronger than this current group. Defensively, this year's Celtics may be better than many of our past teams, save for the Russell era and the 2008 team. These 2022 Celtics have less margin for error and struggle to maintain the mental discipline needed to limit those errors.

Don't take my comments to conclude that I have given up. Not at all.
The biggest strength this team has is its determination and resiliency.
I just fear that our strengths will not be enough to overcome our mental lapses and Stephen Curry.

An excellent breakdown of the Celtics problems. But I will say this, I remember the Chicago Bulls when they were just putting together the Jordan, Pippin era teams... they were very young. The Celtics beat them in a playoff series, I think it was the game that a young Micheal Jorden scored 63. The C's went on to beat them and win a ring. I remember saying then, this won't be the last we hear of this Bulls team. After that, they went on a 6 ring roll. So I'm gonna say it again, this isn't the last time we're gonna go to the big dance. Sometimes you learn, even in loosing.

Im still hoping for a championship this year, because this team seams to play well when their back is to the wall.

[Who]

No, I do not believe. I certainly have hope, but unlike other Celtic title contending teams, this group is painfully fragile.

When all the parts are performing their jobs well and not trying to play beyond their limits, this team is a pleasure to watch and plenty good enough to win the NBA championship. But when we get out of kilter, especially on the offensive end, our chances of success go way down ..................  And the way we usually get out of kilter is to lose mental focus on playing the right way. The Celts have talent, but not the the type of horsepower that those past title teams had across the board, including offense, shooting, rebounding, passing, basketball IQ combined with offensive roles that fit together more naturally and then simply a will to win that was stronger than this current group. Defensively, this year's Celtics may be better than many of our past teams, save for the Russell era and the 2008 team. These 2022 Celtics have less margin for error and struggle to maintain the mental discipline needed to limit those errors.

Don't take my comments to conclude that I have given up. Not at all.
The biggest strength this team has is its determination and resiliency.
I just fear that our strengths will not be enough to overcome our mental lapses and Stephen Curry.

I feel like this is true of most top teams in the league over the last few years ... which makes me wonder if it is more about the way the game is played today more than anything else.

This reliance on 3 point shooting creates more volatility / variability. You have more ups and downs depending on whether  the shot is going in or not than you had in old-school basketball were you took shots closer to the basket and therefore had more consistent shooting.

Those closer shots to the basket also allowed you to have a defense that could interrupt an opponent more than today's defenses do which give up a huge number of open shots that the opponent wants to take (3s).

Three pointer themed offense also space out the court creating less opportunities for offensive rebounds so there is less capacity to influence games through offensive rebounding like teams used to do.

I agree with the criticism but I see it more as a league wide phenomenon over the last few years.

I miss old basketball where there was more control over a game. I'm not sure that is possible in today's league.

[tenn_smoothie]

The Celtics better be running layup and FT drills ALL weekend

They'll defy your orders and instead practice on shooting 100 three's and making maybe 95% of them, some 33 feet away. And then come game time they start bricking and clanking 

Half court shots. That's what they'll be working on from now until tipoff on Monday 

Don't laugh - that is exactly what they were working on during the practice video that was shown from yesterday.
For some reason, Marcus Smart finds it amusing to shoot left-handed 3's during practice.
It's ok Marcus, these are merely the most important games of your career and the franchise's in the past 12 years.

[Moranis]

No, I do not believe. I certainly have hope, but unlike other Celtic title contending teams, this group is painfully fragile.

When all the parts are performing their jobs well and not trying to play beyond their limits, this team is a pleasure to watch and plenty good enough to win the NBA championship. But when we get out of kilter, especially on the offensive end, our chances of success go way down ..................  And the way we usually get out of kilter is to lose mental focus on playing the right way. The Celts have talent, but not the the type of horsepower that those past title teams had across the board, including offense, shooting, rebounding, passing, basketball IQ combined with offensive roles that fit together more naturally and then simply a will to win that was stronger than this current group. Defensively, this year's Celtics may be better than many of our past teams, save for the Russell era and the 2008 team. These 2022 Celtics have less margin for error and struggle to maintain the mental discipline needed to limit those errors.

Don't take my comments to conclude that I have given up. Not at all.
The biggest strength this team has is its determination and resiliency.
I just fear that our strengths will not be enough to overcome our mental lapses and Stephen Curry.

I feel like this is true of most top teams in the league over the last few years ... which makes me wonder if it is more about the way the game is played today more than anything else.

This reliance on 3 point shooting creates more volatility / variability. You have more ups and downs depending on whether  the shot is going in or not than you had in old-school basketball were you took shots closer to the basket and therefore had more consistent shooting.

Those closer shots to the basket also allowed you to have a defense that could interrupt an opponent more than today's defenses do which give up a huge number of open shots that the opponent wants to take (3s).

Three pointer themed offense also space out the court creating less opportunities for offensive rebounds so there is less capacity to influence games through offensive rebounding like teams used to do.

I agree with the criticism but I see it more as a league wide phenomenon over the last few years.

I miss old basketball where there was more control over a game. I'm not sure that is possible in today's league.

Boston isn't 2-2 because of the 3 point shot, it is 2-2 because of the 2 point shot.  Boston is shooting 42.4% from 3 and just 45.7% from 2, but the real issue is Tatum is shooting just 27.5% from 2 (14 of 51).  White isn't much better at 28% (7 of 25).

Tatum's inability to score from inside the arc is a big reason why Boston didn't win game 4.  Tatum is playing mostly very well, but the shooting on the drives has been awful.

[Damiano Brancopreto]

Most in game 4 have been impressed from Curry, but at the end of the day looking at the stats you realize that globally speaking the teams were no different. The gap - as usual - has been determined form the fact that in the stretch we turn the offense off. Hard to correct it now... my sensation is that C's are a better team but GS has got proven champions and an offensive system that in the difficult moments can help them, and this can be crucial.
Tonight I expect the Draymond Green trash&taunt show for sure, hope we'll stay with the head in the match up to the end.

[#1P4P]

This team is special.

Down 3-2 in an elimination Game 6 in Milwaukee against Giannis and the defending Champion Bucks, we won. I like our chances in a best two out of three especially after four games.